Pandora | The Power of Art: Healing One’s Soul
Pandora is an art therapist based in the UK, currently studying for a doctorate degree. Her anxiety grew as she watched the anti-ELAB movement unfold. Unable to participate while being overseas, she launched ‘Project Enheartening’, sending postcards gathered in the UK to Hongkongers. Let’s hear from her experience of the power of art.
“Regardless of political stance, Hongkongers are feeling the same emotions: upset and anxious. Without a doubt, Hongkongers are experiencing a collective trauma. Resolving our emotions is something everyone in Hong Kong should address; whoever wins, in the end, we still have to survive together.”
In psychology, ‘activist burnout’ describes the symptoms from prolonged participation in social movements, such as anxiety, restlessness, disappointment and depression. In Hong Kong many are experiencing activist burnout, so my friend Marco and I initiated Project Enheartening (@enheartenhk), in the hopes of providing art as a means for emotional expression, which helps to forge the possibility for rational discussions.
In August 2019, about two months into the anti-ELAB movement[*1], many people had begun to show a variety of negative emotions related to the social situation. Being in the UK I wanted to contribute, so I made some postcards, invited strangers to draw and write some positive and encouraging messages on them, and sent them to Hong Kong. Participants are of different ages, including children who had no idea this was related to Hong Kong, yet their vibrant creations have healed many souls.
I later found out that Hongkongers’ collective trauma response is not restricted to a certain political camp or stance. Activist burnout doesn’t only affect those who are actively participating in the movement. With information charged with negativity permeating the society, no one can stay out of it. Perhaps, these emotions are the only common ground amongst the divided society—regardless of political stance, Hongkongers are feeling the same emotions: upset and anxious. Without a doubt, Hongkongers are experiencing a collective trauma.
This movement enabled many to reflect on their established beliefs. At the same time, people naturally slip into a defensive mode after being under an unsettling and pressured environment for a prolonged period of time. Suspicion and fear rise, whilst kindness and warmth fade. So, resolving our emotions is something Hong Kong should address; whoever wins, in the end, we still have to survive together.
Mental health under Hong Kong’s medical system
Mental health is a long-term problem that needs to be addressed urgently. Hong Kong’s current medical system tends to simply paraphrase Western theories, without acknowledging the impacts of cultural differences, resulting in only one method of treatment which is medication.
This, however, is not a patient-centric treatment, and it only deepens the public's stigma around mental illnesses, leading to marginalised patients feeling more lonely and helpless. It is difficult for emerging treatments such as art therapy to become mainstream in Hong Kong. For one, this field is new and lacks local professionals, but mainly it is because doing art in Hong Kong is considered expensive, highbrow and capitalistic.
In the UK, this field is fairly well-developed. The government uses community resources and encourages methods such as ‘social prescribing’ to complement or even replace traditional psychiatric and medicated treatment. Through participating in social activities such as fitness training and art classes, patients are able to increase their level of confidence, reestablish their social circle, and resolve different psychological problems or anxious, depressive emotions.
Destigmatisation of mental health issues is a long process, and it requires cooperation on a societal and personal level. Community art provides a possibility in solving this problem. It deepens the public's understanding of mental health issues and increase social interaction. Patients would also have a chance to release their inner-selves through art, without being labelled a ‘patient’. This allows them to establish a more diverse social role and to accept themselves.
Art in Mental Health
Of course we cannot totally rely on the public health system—friendly interaction and communication with other people start from the individual.
Since last August, Project Enheartening (@enheartenhk) has not only sent postcards, but also participated in a few exhibitions about Hong Kong. We also partnered with illustrator @angelc.illust in gathering inspirations of hope and displaying them through drawings. Furthermore, during New Year’s time, we produced videos of British passersby encouraging Hongkongers in Cantonese.
When we first organised activities near Tate Modern[*2], many families brought their children to attend. While the adults were discussing more serious issues, the children were attracted by the various painting tools. Usually, we would briefly explain to the children that Hong Kong is experiencing some difficulties and many Hongkongers are unhappy, then we would invite them to draw something positive or write words of encouragement for those in Hong Kong. Despite not knowing much about Hong Kong, through their use of colourful images and words, wondrous therapeutic power is unleashed.
The methods of expression can vary, and the core spirit of Project Enheartening is to connect humans with authenticity and tangibility.
A year before Project Enheartening, I had started another personal project, ‘Drawing Close’ (@drawing_close). The idea spawns from the experience of living in a big city, and the everyday life of its citizens. I have always been interested in how human interaction affects creativity.
One day, I started chatting with people on the streets of London while drawing their portraits. Many started with a negative mood, but after the drawing is finished they would tell me that “you made my day”. There was once a lady who was surprised that her double chin she really cared about didn’t appear in the drawing; another time I drew the portrait of an artist, who gave me a quick sketch in return. Yes, many had refused to participate, but this didn’t stop me from trying. In about two and a half years’ time, there have been 228 participants in this project. Apart from London and Hong Kong, I’ve also drawn in Latvia, Malta, Japan, and even on the plane. This unique experience made me realise that, through listening and drawing, I can help others feel seen and discover themselves from another perspective.
Whether it’s Project Enheartening or Drawing Close, these projects utilise art to close the gap between individuals. Some may speak little about art’s value, yet it is the very thing that heals one’s soul.
“I am Pandora, I am a HKer.”
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[*1] The ongoing movement since June 2019, initially directed against the extradition law amendment bill, which would allow suspects in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China.
[*2] Tate Modern is a modern art gallery in London, UK.